La Villa Paris is a four-room bed and breakfast set in a lovely 1920s mansion in the 13th arrondissement in southeastern Paris. It's a 15-minute metro ride to the historic center of Paris and major tourist attractions. But a stay at La Villa Paris offers a window into the life of real Parisians. The location in the Butte aux Cailles quarter is like living in a charming village, with its own butcher, baker, small bars and restaurants, and the owners provide guests with the perfect balance of attention and privacy.

Le Royal Monceau is a seriously luxe hotel a stone's throw from the Arc de Troimphe. A Philippe Starck renovation -- finished in 2010 -- brought a heady mix of art and design, which extends to every corner of each of the 149 rooms, to this already high-class hotel. Facilities also go above and beyond most five-star standards, from Michelin-star dining to a guitar in every room, to bespoke art collections and a digital 3D theater on-site. Unsurprisingly, rates are eye-wateringly expensive -- probably the highest in Paris -- so this resort is only to be considered by those with very deep pockets.

The 200-room Peninsula Paris, located in the 16th arrondissement near the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees, is one of the city's top luxury hotels and rivaled only by a handful of competitors (Shangri-La Paris and Hotel Plaza Athenee among them). It reopened in 2014 after a four-year, multi-million dollar restoration, and the historic property offers guests opulent interiors and a high level of service made possible by the 600 staff members. Several dining and drinking options include a rooftop restaurant with beautiful panoramic views over the city, a sumptuous lobby bar with outdoor terrace, and a lavish Cantonese restaurant. The hotel also has a full-service underground spa with lovely pool and two fitness rooms. Rooms, which are some of the largest in Paris, feature elegant decor in neutral tones and a bounty of high-tech details, including tablet-operated lights, temperature, and valet calls (though the controls may strike some as too complicated).

Guests at the 101-room Shangri-La Hotel Paris receive the five-star treatment in this former palace, built by Napoleon for his grandnephew. Because of its meticulous restoration and attention to detail, Shangri-La feels like a boutique hotel, or a museum in which you can spend the night. Two Michelin-star restaurants and the unparalleled views of the Eiffel Tower from balconies -- and even from some guest room bathtubs -- mean Shangri-La truly lives up to its reputation as a top luxury stay.

Located on the Champs Élysées, the Fouquet's Barrière is one of the most famous and exclusive luxury hotels in Paris. It has a slightly modernized Haussmann-style exterior, while interior design combines baroque, surrealist, and classic style elements with contemporary flair. Sophisticated rooms start at 400 square feet, and black marble bathrooms have separate showers and tubs as well as TVs in the mirrors. The extensive features include three restaurants (one Michelin-starred), an upscale spa, and a gorgeous indoor swimming pool. The hotel deserves its five-star status, but this level of luxury comes at a very high price.

The world-renowned luxury hotel Plaza Athenee -- a part of the Dorchester Collection -- is synonymous with Parisian elegance and good taste. Iconic red awnings and chestnut trees welcome guests to the historic setting, on the upscale Avenue Montaigne location with direct views of the Eiffel Tower. It's all about luxury here, inside and out. The avenue is lined with high-end shops such as Christian Dior (guests have access to the Dior Institute for a full range of quality beauty and spa treatments), Prada, and Chanel. And inside, the 146 rooms and 45 suites are decorated in classic Art Deco style with modern touches like flat-screen TVs and marble baths. With six distinct restaurants, a large fitness center, and a can't-miss daily breakfast in a leafy garden, the Plaza Athenee doesn't miss a beat. But it comes at a high price -- and Wi-Fi isn't even included in that cost.

The historic MGallery Molitor has evolved from a popular public swimming location to an art gallery to an abandoned warehouse. After a May 2014 renovation, it transformed itself yet again -- this time as a stylish, luxurious hotel. Geared toward the fashion-conscious, the Moliter’s 124 rooms, though on the small side, are bright and modern with plush, comfortable beds. The expansive indoor and outdoor pools are free for guest use, the Art Deco architecture truly unique, and the dining first-rate. However, it's located on the outskirts of the city limits in the 16th arrondissement, and the trip to central Paris involves a 30-minute taxi or metro ride.

The Bel Ami is a bright, modern luxury hotel in the heart of the famous Saint-Germain-des-Pres, among Paris's most fashionable neighborhoods. The 108 rooms and suites have free Wi-Fi, minibars, iHome docks, and sleek bathrooms. There are also a small fitness center, a spa with a sauna and treatments, a bright bar with unusual cocktails, and a restaurant that serves a buffet breakfast and an extensive weekend brunch. However, the opening hours of some of the facilities are less than convenient -- the spa is closed on Monday and Tuesday and the restaurant is only open for weekday breakfast and weekend brunch. Fortunately, the hotel offers 24-hour room service for guests who don't want to eat out in one of the numerous restaurants in the historic neighborhood.

The luxury Hotel Napoleon has 51 rooms and 51 suites, and a restaurant bar and lounge. The spa offers a menu of body and beauty treatments, and massages, and the seventh-floor fitness center offers views of Paris rooftops from the cardio machines. The Art Deco- and Empire-inspired rooms are well-appointed, some with canopy beds and all with fresh flowers and serious Napoleonic art, yet exude coziness. Within walking distance of the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs-Elysées, and the Charles de Gaulle-Etoile metro station, which connects to lines 1, 2, and 6, and the RER, the location is good for getting around Paris. The La Defense business district is six metro stops away.

This luxury property has 46 elegant rooms and suites set in a beautiful 19th century Parisian building. Renovated in 2010, the decor is a mix of classical and modern French style. Rooms are stocked with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and inlaid wood furniture -- some have private balconies and fireplaces. The location is ideal for tourists, Arc de Triomphe and Place de l'Etoile are within a 10-minute walk. With an excellent restaurant, indoor swimming pool, fitness center, and spa, this hotel provides a good value compared to pricier five-pearl hotels in the area.